Monkeypox cases have been rising in the US and other countries worldwide, pushing the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare it a global public health concern last month. To make the matter worse, conspiracy theories have been exploding, adding fears to the already concerned public.
A new national survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center reveals that many Americans know so little about the monkeypox virus, even if most have seen, read, or heard something about it in the past month.
Many Americans Lack Information About Monkeypox
Based on the findings of the survey, 20% of Americans are afraid they will get infected by the monkeypox virus, while 48% do not know whether monkeypox is more contagious than COVID-19, and 66% do not believe there is a monkeypox vaccine.
Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, emphasized in a media release that it is crucial for the public to calibrate its concerns about the ongoing outbreak and act appropriately.
The survey also reveals that many Americans lack information about the monkeypox virus and how to keep themselves safe from it. Around 69% said that they know the monkeypox virus spreads via close contact with an infected person, but 26% are unsure whether this is true.
Meanwhile, about 14% believe that the monkeypox virus is as contagious as COVID-19 and only 36% correctly said it is less contagious.
According to Study Finds, 67% of the respondents also think that getting the COVID-19 vaccine makes them immune from contracting the monkeypox virus, while 28% are unsure. However, researchers said no study has proven that the COVID-19 vaccine gives immunity to monkeypox.
About one-third of those who closely work with animals said there is no chance, 9% are optimistic, and 57% are unsure.
Another question in the survey asks the respondents whether they believe that men who have sex with other men have a higher chance of contracting the virus. About 33% believe so, while 66% are divided among those who feel it is false or are unsure about it.
Recent cases of monkeypox disease outside Africa are mostly among men who have sex with men, but WHO has constantly reminded the public that the virus does not discriminate and can infect anyone, and it is not sexually transmitted.
Top Four Common Conspiracy Theories Around Monkeypox
Jamieson said that conspiracy theorists had incorporated their pre-existing beliefs into their view on monkeypox, so instead of believing the scientific explanation about its emergence, they believe that it started to spread for other reasons.
According to News Medical Life Sciences, the survey found worrisome numbers of Americans accepting one of four conspiracy theories or are unsure whether they are true or false. Numerous conspiracy theories also appeared during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are the top four conspiracy theories about monkeypox:
- Monkeypox virus bioengineered in a lab- About 54% reject this idea, although 34% are not sure and 12% said it is true.
- Monkeypox virus intentionally released- About 56% see this as a false claim, while 30% are unsure, and 14% believe that this is true, although there has been no evidence to support this claim.
- Monkeypox virus released to help Biden- Most people (71%) reject the idea that the virus is used to help the US president. While 10% believe this to be true, and 19% are not sure.
- Exposure to 5G Caused Monkeypox Outbreak- About 78% correctly said that exposure to 5G signal is false, while 21% are not sure.
RELATED ARTICLE: Monkeypox Virus Could Be Spreading Under the Radar, World Health Organization Says
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